EXCLUSIVE: I hear FX has pulled the trigger on a series order for Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s hot drama pilot American Horror Story, from 20th Century Fox TV. The spooky project which stars Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton and Jessica Lange, has been picked up for 13 episodes and is eyed for a Halloween launch with an October 5 premiere. Described as a psychosexual thriller, American Horror Story centers on a therapist (McDermott) and his wife (Britton) who, dealing with the aftermath of the husband’s adultery, move along with their kids into a new house that seems to know all about their fears and plays on them. American Horror Story has strong supernatural elements (For example, the housekeeper is perceived differently by the two spouses) and also explores other forms of horror in society. In creating the show, Murphy and Falchuk took inspiration from classic 1970s horror movies, including Rosemary’s Baby, Don’t Look Now and The Shining.

American Horror Story had been on the fast track at FX since the get-go. It was given a pilot order in February. Before the pilot was even cast, FX president John Landgraf in March said that the project had been earmarked for a fall 2011 launch. But I hear that plan was solidified by the pilot’s great testing results, especially in the female demos, fueled by the appeal of stars Britton and Lange. In anticipation of a series order, American Horror Story had already assembled a writing staff that has been working on scripts. Filming is expected to start in about 2 weeks. Co-starring on the series are Frances Conroy, Alexandra Breckenridge, Taissa Farmiga, Evan Peters and Denis O’Hare. Murphy and Falchuk will juggle running the series with shepherding their hit Fox dramedy Glee. This marks Murphy and Falchuk’s official return to FX where they executive produced the long-running drama Nip/Tuck, which Murphy created.

Recent Comments

@ Ryan Murphy: Just leave your stupid mass appeal show and concentrate on this one.

RecceR

4 years

Murphy is under contract to devlop projects for 20th Century Fox, so it was always going to...

LOS ANGELES, July 18, 2011 – FX has placed a 13-episode order for its next original drama series, American Horror Story, co-created by former Nip/Tuck executive producers and current Glee co-creators/executive producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, announced John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks. American Horror Story begins production in Los Angeles on July 27 and will premiere on FX in October.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan and Brad back to their original home,” said Landgraf. “They have shown an uncanny ability to bring original series to the air unlike any that have come before, and to reconcile ‘wildly entertaining’ with the ‘creatively ambitious.’ Once again, American Horror Story is a wholly unique and original take on its genre with richly drawn characters. The ability to put together a cast of stars such as Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Denis O’Hare, Frances Conroy and Oscar®-winner Jessica Lange speaks to the quality of the writing and storytelling. This series is going to blow audiences back in their seats, and we can’t wait to have it on our air.”

The pilot episode of American Horror Story, shot in Los Angeles, was written by Murphy and Falchuk, and it was directed by Murphy. In addition to Murphy and Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto will also serve as Executive Producer of the series.

“Brad and I are excited to be back at FX where we enjoyed such a terrific relationship working with John Landgraf and his team through 100 episodes of Nip/Tuck,” said Murphy. “The support of John, Dana Walden and Gary Newman on American Horror Story has been nothing short of amazing. Our cast is extraordinary and we can’t wait to get started on production.”

American Horror Story is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.

“Ryan and Brad are two of the most original voices working in television, and their singular vision is evident in every frame of American Horror Story,” commented TCFTV Chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman. “Just as they delivered a brand new take on the musical comedy in Glee, they’ve completely reinvented the horror genre with this spellbinding series. Their script attracted a cast that is a virtual ‘who’s who’ of award winning performers and the result is an electrifying piece of entertainment. It has long been our goal to bring this brilliant team back to John Landgraf and FX, where they had such success with Nip/Tuck. In American Horror Story, they are returning with something unlike anything else on the air that is a perfect fit for this channel’s brand.”

American Horror Story revolves around The Harmons, a family of three who move from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish. The All Star cast features Dylan McDermott (The Practice) as “Ben Harmon,” a psychiatrist; Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) as “Vivien Harmon,” Ben’s wife; Taissa Farmiga as “Violet,” the Harmon’s teenage daughter; Jessica Lange (Tootsie, Blue Sky, Grey Gardens) in her first-ever regular series TV role as “Constance,” the Harmon’s neighbor; Evan Peters (One Tree Hill) as “Tate Langdon,” one of Ben’s patients; and Denis O’Hare (The Good Wife) as “Larry Harvey.” Guest stars for the series include Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) and Alexandra Breckenridge (Dirt) as the Harmon’s housekeepers; and Jamie Brewer as Constance’s daughter.

American Horror Story is FX’s 12th drama to receive a full 13-episode series order, and ninth out of the last ten drama pilots produced by the network to receive a series order. Other FX dramas include the Golden Globe Award winning Sons of Anarchy, the highest-rated series in the network’s history; the acclaimed Emmy Award nominated hitJustified; the critically acclaimed series Terriers, andLights Out; Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Damages; Emmy Award nominated The Riches;Dirt; the acclaimed Over There; Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominated hit Rescue Me; Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Nip/Tuck; and Emmy and Golden Globe Award hit The Shield. FX is currently in production on two other drama series pilots, Outlaw Country, starring John Hawkes, Mary Steenburgen, Luke Grimes and Haley Bennett, andPowers, starring Jason Patric.

19 Comments

It will have an awesome first season and then quickly deteriorate in quality…

Spooky • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

This sounds similar to HOUSE OF LEAVES, by Danielewski. A tough as hell book to read, but very enjoyable.

fanofdan • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

If you thought H.o.L.s was tough, try his Only Revolutions. It makes House look like One Fish Two Fish.

hope springs • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

I hope they cast some non-white people for the roles. And I don’t mean the maid.

Angie • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

I’m guessing it will start out great until Ryan Murphy and “vision” run it into the ground as he is doing with Glee now and has done with his past series.

Goody • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

Boy does this sound good. Too bad HBO is not doing it though. Don’t tell me they passed on it.

afts • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

do you really think it was offered anywhere else than FX?

RecceR • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

Murphy is under contract to devlop projects for 20th Century Fox, so it was always going to be on FX.

jeffers • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

can’t wait to see how Ryan Murphy is gonna get away with this one…

gleek • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

Falchuk rocks my socks. Amazing and creepy script!

Lisa • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

Ugh, is this another movie idea that’s being forced into the TV world?!?!

To Hope Springs — your hope is my hope.

Jon • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

What would you prefer, all lawyer, doctor, and cop shows?

Edward • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

In the final paragraph of the press release, is that an subtle acknowledgement of FX picking up Powers?

afts • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

Hmm… no? It says they are working on the pilot.

yougottabekiddin • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

I agree with Mike B. Like all Ryan Murphy ideas, great out of the starting gate quickly dropping into a deep hole of crap. Jessica will be available again a year from now.

afts • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

You know that the cast will be new in season 2? That’s why Connie is doing it the first place, then she will do this project with Russel O. Davies.

CMG • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

I think this is more Falchuk, who always did better with dark scripts, but Murphy still have the bigger bona fides as the show-runner to 2 hit shows. But seriously, I love this cast and anything to get him away from making Glee more schizophrenic.

bigtimeinsider • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

Dylan only makes eye contact with those above the line, so unless this scary house is a heavy hitter, I don’t see it making an impression on him.

jksz • on Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am

@ Ryan Murphy: Just leave your stupid mass appeal show and concentrate on this one.